Juries are an important part of the democratic and judicial system of the United States. Jurors should respect their duty and show up to become part of the legal system. However, sometimes jurors complain that coming for jury duty leads to economic losses for them. Both employees and employers must compromise when it comes to jury duty because it is a democratic duty of every citizen.

U.S. law protects all employees who are serving on a jury. Employers are prohibited from threatening an employee and asking them to stay back and work. Employees cannot be laid off or retaliated against because of their democratic duty. Most states also impose certain restriction on employees. They must provide proof jury duty to their employers and give reasonable notice beforehand.

Federal law does not force employers to pay employees who are gone for jury duty. The Fair Labor Standards Act deals with employee salaries, and it does not require an employer to provide paid leave for jury duty. But according to a Bureau of Labor Survey, 87 percent of employers provide a paid leave to employees who leave for jury duty. Some states like Connecticut give full-time employees their pay for the first five days of jury duty.

Employers who violate these laws can face severe consequences. If you feel that your rights were violated by your employer, consider hiring an experienced attorney to help you file a complaint. There is a chance that you will be able to recover back pay and receive compensation as well.